5 Best Whole-Plant Vaporizers In 2021

Whole-plant vaporizers are nifty devices that only use hemp-flower. (They can, of course, be used for marijuana, too.) Without igniting it, they heat up and phase change the oils within the plant material, releasing the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes for medicinal effect. All this without the carbon monoxide and particulate matter of smoke. (You don’t have to cough to get off, as it turns out.) By avoiding ignition of the hemp, whole-plant vapes avoid most of the potentially damaging pyrolytic compounds.

Nor should the dangers of vaping oil cartridges be associated with whole-plant vaporizers. Oil cartridges often contain chemical thinning agents like polyethylene glycol to make the hemp oil less viscous or, in the case of e-cigarette makers like Juul, to suspend the nicotine. The habitual inhalation of these chemical thinning agents has been shown to cause lung damage. (Unfortunately, fears of vaping-related illnesses led Apple to remove all vape-related cell phone applications from the AppStore on November 12, 2019, thereby reducing the capabilities of some whole-plant vape units.) Extracted oils can also include concentrated residue of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, heavy metals, and mold.

The vapor from whole-plant vaporizers does contain some residual compounds from the hemp plant itself. But the best (and more expensive) whole-plant devices have temperature control settings that allow users to experiment and dial in the release of cannabinoids and terpenes. Terpenes phase change at different temperatures and every user benefits from unique combinations of terpenes and cannabinoid ratios.

Conduction vs. Convection

Whole-plant vaporizers typically heat cannabis flower by one of two methods: conduction or convection. Conduction vaporizers heat the bowl that holds the plant material, whereas convection vaporizers pass hot air through the hemp. Both technologies are effective, but convection vapes have temperature controls for fine-tuning the effect.

To find the best effect for you, play with the different temperatures to maximize the compounds within your preferred hemp strain. Lighting up a pre-rolled hemp cone destroys many of these same terpenes. And even the best thinning-agent-free hemp-oils have a narrower terpene profile than the plants they’re extracted from. This limits the potential medicinal properties of that oil.

Make sure to grind your flower to achieve an “even roast”—finer grind for convection units in a loose-packed bowl (for airflow) and medium grind for conduction in a firm-packed bowl. Also, note that the best units have vape paths constructed from ceramic or glass—not plastic.

In our experience, whole-plant vaping is the best consumption method for experiencing the full flavor and immediate effect of hemp-flower. It’s comparable to aerating or decanting wine so it can “open up.” Consuming hemp in this way uncovers the nuances of flavor and unique effect of each individual strain.

Whole-plant vaping is also refreshingly low profile, i.e. good for public consumption. Cleaning these devices is super simple, too. They don’t reek of weed, and you won’t cough and hack like a newbie.